Texas' Blaine Irby (19) runs into the end zone after catching a pass for a touchdown as Texas A&M linebacker Jonathan Stewart (11) defends during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2011, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Photo By Associated Press

Iowa State quarterback Jared Barnett (16) is tackled by Texas A&M linebacker Sean Porter (10) and linebacker Jonathan Stewart (11) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Photo By Jon Eilts/Associated Press

Texas A&M teammates Jonathan Stewart (11) and Sean Porter (10) react after Porter earned a sack during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Baylor Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011, in College Station, Texas. Texas A&M won 55-28. (AP Photo/Jon Eilts)

Photo By Jon Eilts/AP

Texas A&M teammates Jonathan Stewart (11) and Sean Porter (10) react after Porter earned a sack during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Baylor Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011, in College Station, Texas. Texas A&M won 55-28.

Texas A&M's Jonathan Stewart (from left), Von Miller and Sean Porter linger on the field in Stillwater, Okla., after the Aggies' 38-35 loss to Oklahoma State on Thursday. A&M's defense has five sacks in four games. Miller had 17 last season.

COLLEGE STATION — Basketball and baseball weren't for a pint-sized Jonathan Stewart and his pals while growing up in the Western Hills neighborhood of Shreveport, La. Only one sport earned their attention for hours on end — with the surface below dictating the game's brutality.

All those hours of play seven miles from Shreveport's Independence Stadium — along with blooming into a 6-foot-4 playmaker — helped earn Stewart a scholarship to A&M three years ago. And Saturday he's headed home as the No. 22 Aggies face No. 23 Louisiana Tech in a game postponed from Aug. 30 because of Hurricane Isaac.

“He's been walking around with a big smile on his face,” A&M center and fellow Louisianan Patrick Lewis said. “Half the stadium will be rooting for him.”

Two men applauding Stewart this week were Aggies coach Kevin Sumlin and defensive coordinator Mark Snyder. Stewart made a game-saving tackle last Saturday in A&M's 30-27 comeback victory at Ole Miss, when he stuffed running back Jeff Scott on fourth-and-inches as the Rebels tried running out the clock with a lead.

“(Linebacker) Sean Porter blew into the backfield and created a pile, and Jonathan shot his gun at the perfect time,” Snyder said, referring to Stewart's ability to hit the gap. “They met in the hole, and Jonathan ended up winning.”

Snyder pointed out that Stewart had worked on that very play time and again during practice in the days leading to the Ole Miss contest, and “to Jon's credit he made it happen. That was big time.”

Stewart's role is amplified this Saturday, too, with the absence of starting outside linebacker Steven Jenkins, suspended along with backup safety Howard Matthews for “violations of team rules” stemming from offseason indiscretions.

Stewart is playing for his third coordinator and second head coach at A&M and has excelled under all of them. Last season under then-coach Mike Sherman, Stewart led the 7-6 Aggies with 98 tackles in a 3-4 defensive scheme. He hasn't let up with the switch to a 4-3 under Snyder, earning a team-high 38 tackles through five games.

“We've bought in,” Stewart said of the senior defenders' approach under a new regime.

“They blitz a lot, move on the line and create a lot of problems on offense,” Louisiana Tech coach Sonny Dykes said.

Off the field, Stewart is a sports management major who hopes to work in an NFL front office when his playing days are over, no matter the level. He's also a tad “goofy,” as fellow senior and starting safety Steven Terrell described him. That was on display this week when reporters asked Stewart for restaurant recommendations in Shreveport.

Stewart simply suggested the online dining guide urbanspoon.com to reporters, and followed it with a reference to Google Maps.

“It's the 21st century,” Stewart said, chuckling.

But it was late last century in Shreveport that set the foundation for Stewart's college career in an area he'll revisit against a potent Louisiana Tech offense, with likely lots of tackling going on. Just like in the old days.

“They're averaging 53 points per game,” Stewart said. “We expect to fight for all four quarters.”